Ice dispensing machine



1965 w. A. ESCHENBURG ETAL 3,

ICE DISPENSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 30. 1961INVENTORS EJCHEA/BUEG 4ND WILLIAM A.

BY W/LL/AM 5. 734%02 m .4 Tim/:5

1965 w. A. ESCHENBURG ETAL 3,

ICE DISPENSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 50

a M; H

A w w; T l- E N BY EMA m VET T NH MA AM m w w B a Nov. 9, 1965 W. A.ESCHENBURG ETAL ICE DISPENSING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 30, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 3 ,4A/o W/LL/AMS. Fina/z ATTOEA/EKS ICE DISPENSING MACHINE5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Jan. 30, 1961 IN V EN TORS BY WILLIAM A.Esc/JeA/Bueq Nov. 9, 1965 W. Ar ESCHENBURG ETAL ICE DISPENSING MACHINEOriginal Filed Jan. 30, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 if m5 j INVENTORS l LL/AM4. EscMsn/MRG $42 4 WWW? United States Patet The present inventionrelates to new and improved vending apparatus and product containerdispensing means forming a part thereof, the apparatus in the embodimentto be described being especially adapted for use in the forming, storingand vending of ice particles. More specifically, the present inventionis directed to improvements in the ice making and vending machine of ourapplication Serial No. 693,928, filed November 1, 1957, now Patent No.2,969,650, of which this is a continuation-in-part as well as a divisionof application Serial No. 85,654, filed January 30, 1961, and now PatentNo. 3,119,518.

Different forms of unitized product storing and dispensing machines havebeen developed for substantially wide-spread commercial use. Examples ofthe simpler types of such machines which are most commonly known includecandy vending and other solid article vending machines. Vending machinesof a more complicated nature are those designed for handling liquidproducts, such as soft drinks, wherein the drinks are actually mixedautomatically within the machine and are dispensed therefrom uponoperation of the same. Because of the automatic operationalcharacteristics of such machines, widespread use of the same is commonand considerable quantities of the products can be sold Without anysubstantial expense from the standpoint of labor accompanying suchsales. With this advantage along with other well known advantages, thedemand for automatic vending machines for use with many different typesof products is great. However, limitations in the use of coin operatedor otherwise automatically operated vending machines exist Where theproduct involved is difficult to store or handle for vending purposes,the electro-mechanical operating mechanisms of the machines are of acomplex nature requiring frequent and expensive maintenance, and vendedproduct container dispensing means are subject to uncontrolled use to anextent that container supply is exhausted well prior to predeterminedintervals of planned vending machine servicing.

The foregoing limitations are especially applicable to apparatusproposed for the vending of particles of ice, in cube form or the like,suitable for immediate use without further size reduction. Ice cubes areused for a variety of purposes in substantial quantities and due totheir tendency to become fused together during storage, it is diiiicultto store a quantity of the same without coherence or fusing occuringunless, of course, each individual cube is maintained separately out ofcontact with adjacent cubes. Separation of ice cubes for storagepurposes is impractical and our above identified copending applicationdiscloses a special storage arrangement whereby a substantial mass ofaccumulated ice particles may be indefinitely stored for the purpose ofmeeting periodical peak demand in vending and without undesirablecoherence or fusing between particles occurring.

In the vending of ice particles it is necessary that containers besupplied for use by the purchaser. Without an adequate supply ofcontainers available, the vending machine would be subjected to periodsof inoperation thus materially limiting its commercial value. Theprovision of an uncontrolled supply of containers is considered imicepractical as the containers are often wasted or used for other purposes.An ice making and vending machine of the type disclosed in our earlierapplication is fully automatic in that the machine is capable ofcontinuously producing an adequate supply of ice particles for vendingpurposes and storing an adequate accumulated mass of the ice particlesfor the accommodation of periodical peak demands in vending. Thus, witha machine of this type, it is essential that automatically controlledcon tainer dispensing means are provided in order to make fullutilization of the fully automatic characteristics of the basic machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedcombination vending machine for multiple product mass vending, andcontainer dispensing means for dispensing product mass containersconcurrently and automatically with product mass vending.

Another object is to provide a new and improved drive means for use in acombination vending machine and container dispensing device, the drivemeans being adapted to provide concurrent operation of multiple productmass vending means and product mass container dispensingmeans in anuncomplicated manner and with minimum maintenance requirements.

Still a further object is to provide a new and improved bag dispenserfor use with a vending machine, the dis penser being adapted to store aplurality of product containers therein and including means forautomatically dispensing separate containers in an efiicient successivemanner.

Still a further object is to provide a new and improved ice making andvending machine which provides for controlled ice particle formation,substantial capacity ice particle storage without coherence and fusionoccurring and efficient ice particle vending as controlled by meanspreventing ice particle mass formation during the vending operation.

Other objects not specifically set forth will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the present invention made inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the ice making and vending machine of thepresent invention including as a part thereof the container dispensingmeans;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a portion of the machine ofFIG. 1 taken generally along line 2-2 therein, this View illustratingthe drive means constituting a part of the present invention and a partof the ice particle storage means as well as the ice particle vendingmeans of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section of the elements of FIG. 2 takengenerally along line 33 therein;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary and partly sectioned view of the icemaking portion of the machine of FIG. I as Well as the top portion ofthe ice storage means of the machine, the illustration of FIG. 4 beingviewed from the front face of the machine of FIG. 1 with the top cabinetdoor portion thereof removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the product containerdispensing means forming a part of the invention, this view being takengenerally along line 55 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section of the lower portion of the productcontainer dispensing means of FIG. 5 illustrating operation thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a portion of the drivemeans taken generally along line 7-7 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating opera tional aspects ofthe portion of the drive meemfihown therein.

The ice making and vending apparatus of FIG. 1 generally comprises aninsulated cabinet-type housing closed along the front face thereof by ahingedly mounted door 11. Suitably mounted on one side surface of thecabinet 10 is a container dispensing means in the form of a bagdispenser 12 which forms a part of the present invention. The door 11carries a known type of coin operated vending control mechanism 13 whichdoes not form a part of the present invention, and a chute-type productdelivery housing 14 which is suitably aligned with a product deliveryopening formed in the door 11. The cabinet 10 as covered in ouraforementioned application generally includes therein an ice particleforming portion, an ice particle storage portion, an ice particlevending portion and a suitable refrigeration system operating mechanism.The ice particle forming portion 15 is located in the top of cabinet 10and is generally illustrated in FIG. 4. The ice particle storage portion16 is positioned below the ice particle forming portion 15 in thecabinet 10 and is generally illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. The ice particlevending portion 17 is located to one side of the bottom portion of theice particle storage portion 16 and is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Theoperating components of the refrigeration system are mounted in thecabinet 10 below the ice particle storage means 16 in an area generallydesignated by the numeral 18 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the ice particle storage means16 comprises a storage bin 20 formed with a bottom section which isfrusto-conical in shape. The bottom section, by way of example only, mayconform to a 60 true angle cone. The upper edge of the coneshaped bottomsection has integrally joined therewith a rectangular section the lowermargin of which conforms to a true line of intersection of a rectanglewith a cone.

' The particular shape of the storage bin 20 is covered in ouraforementioned application and it is believed sufficient for thepurposes of the present invention to merely describe the storage bin 20as being adapted to receive therein an accumulation of ice particleswhich, by reason of the shape of the lower section of the bin, tend toaccumulate toward the center bottom surface area of the bin.

The bottom surface of the bin 20 is provided with a centrally locatedaperture 21 through which projects an upstanding auger 22 provided witha continuous helical blade portion 23. The auger 22 is suitablyjournaled through an insulated partition 24 forming a part of thecabinet 10 and isolating the upper portion of the cabinet wherein iceparticles are made, stored and vended from the lower portion 18 of thecabinet wherein the refrigeration system operating apparatus is mounted.An electric motor 25 is suitably mounted in the lower portion 18 of thecabinet 10 and is drivingly connected to the auger 22 throughcooperating means of any suitable type which are not shown. The motor 25operates continuously during use of the ice making and vending machinethus providing a continuous drive for the auger 22 which rotates in thestorage bin 20.

As a result of continuous auger rotation in the storage bin 20, anaccumulated mass of ice particles contained therein is subjected to aconstant boiling-type agitation or motion to prevent coherence andfusing between the ice particles during their retention in the storagebin. This unique method of storing ice particles is fully covered in ouraforementioned application and generally consists of continuously andslowly moving a centrally located mass of ice particle-s in an upwardlydirection from the bottom of the bin 20 and radially outwardly from theupper center portion of the bin 20 in all directions relative to theauger 22. The ice particles deposited on the top surface portion of theaccumulated mass then slowly move downwardly in response to thegravitational effect and eventually, by reason of the shape of the lowersection of the storage bin 20, return into contact with the blade 23 ofthe auger 22. Thus continuous circulation of the ice particlesaccumulated in the storage bin 20 occurs with the circulatory motion ofthe particles being maintained at a sufficiently slow rate to preventbreakage thereof, but at a sufficiently fast rate to prevent fusingcoherence therebetween. Any water collecting in the storage bin 20 flowstherefrom through the bottom opening 21 onto the top surface of theinsulated partition 24. This top surface is shaped for drainage of waterinto a drain pipe or tube 26 which is suitably connected to a flexiblehose 27 or the like which provides for water removal from the machine.

The ice particle vending means 17 generally comprises a rotatable drum28 which is mounted in a chutelike vending member 30 which extendsthrough a delivery opening in the cabinet door 11 and into communicationwith the delivery chute device 14 mounted on the door 11. As best shownin FIG. 2, the drum 28 is mounted adjacent an opening 31 in the bottomsection of the storage bin 20. The drum itself is provided with an iceparticle receiving and discharge opening 32 which rotates toward andaway from the bin opening 31. The drum further includes internallythereof a false bottom 33 providing a flat ice particle supportingsurface which becomes aligned with the bottom ice particle deliverysurface 34 of the chute 30 in the vending position of the drum asillustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the drum 28 is formed with oppositeend projecting pins 35 suitably received in bearings 36 which aremounted on the cabinet partition 24. Releasable locking members 37function to suitably confine the pins 35 in the bearing 36 but arereadily removable to permit complete disassembly of drum 28 from themachine for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, vending operation of the machine asactuated by the coin operated mechanism 13 results in rotation of thedrum 28 with eventual alignment of the drum opening 32 with the storagebin opening 31. At this point of rotation of the drum 28 a predeterminedquantity of ice particles is delivered by gravity from the bin 20 intothe drum and continued rotation of the drum results in the dischargingof this predetermined quantity onto the bottom surface 34 of the chutemember 30. A resilient scrapper-type blade member 38 is suitably mountedin the cabinet 10 and projects downwardly into the chute member 30 andinto rubbing engagement with the outer surface of the drum 28. Thismember prevents the movement of ice particles from the bin 20 around theouter surface of the drum 28 and into the delivery chute 30. Any waterflowing from the drum 28 onto the surface 34 of the delivery chute 30 iscollected in a drain member 40 and delivered by suitable hose-type meansto a collection pan or external drain not shown.

The vended mass of ice particles delivered onto the surface 34movesalong the same into the delivery chute assembly 14. This assemblycomprises a housing portion 41 having an aperture 42 formed thereinwhich is closed ofI by a transparent plate 43 through which ice particlevending may be observed. The central bottom portion of the housing 41 asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is inclined inwardly and defines internallythereof a nozzle-type ice particle discharge area 44 which is closed offby a movable closure plate-like member 45.

The closure member 45 is in the form of a bowed or arcuate plate whichis suitably attached to a transverse operating rod 46 journaled in thehousing 41. As shown in FIG. 2, a leaf spring 47 fixed to the door 11 ofthe cabinet has an end portion which functions with the closure member45 to spring urge the same into nozzle closing position. FIG. 1illustrates an operating handle 48 which is suitably connected to therod 46 and which upon downward movement pivots the closure plate 45 awayfrom the bottom of the housing 41 to open the nozzle area and permit theice particles collected therein to be discharged downwardly.

The closure plate 45 as shown in FIG. 2 carries a generally L-shaped,relatively rigid finger member 50 which extends upwardly and over theice particle receiving surface 34 of the chute member 30. Closure plateopening operation results in the finger 50 moving upwardly and away fromthe ice particle receiving surface 34 and thus through the mass of iceparticles deposited thereon to separate any cohered ice particles andprovide for complete separation of the mass from the surface 34. In thismanner delivery of all of the ice particles vended by the drum 28 isassured and the cooperating delivery chute elements will not becomeclogged by cohered or fused masses of ice particles.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the housing 41 of the delivery chuteassembly 14 mounted on the door 11 has a portion thereof extendingdownwardly to form a container supporting rack-like member 51. Asuitable container such as a bag or the like may be supported on therack 51 and the top open end of the bag may be received about thenozzle-like area of the delivery chute assembly. Thus upon vendingoperation of the ice machine, a measured mass of ice particles isdelivered into the delivery chute assembly and may be readily observedby the purchaser through the transparent plate 43. Simultaneously withvending a bag-type container is automatically dispensed from the bagdispensing device 12 as will be described. The vended mass of iceparticles is retained in the delivery chute assembly 14 while thepurchaser opens the dispensed bag and places the same in coveringrelation about the bottom nozzle delivery portion of the assembly 41.The handle 48 is then pressed downwardly and the nozzle area 44 of thechute assembly 14 is opened and the ice particles drop into the bagsupported on the rack 51.

The unique drive mechanism constituting a part of the present inventionis best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. This mechanism includes anelectric motor 52 suitably mounted in the bottom area 18 of the cabinet16 and connected to a gear box 53 to power a sprocket 54 attachedthereto. The sprocket 54 is engaged with a drive chain 55 which in turnis engaged with a driven sprocket 56 suitably mounted on a pin of thedrum 28. The insertion of a coin in the coin operated mechanism 13results in energization of the motor 52 through means of an electricalcircuit not shown but which is of well known type. The chain drives thedrum 28 and the ice particle mass vending operation previously describedresults.

In providing for concurrent container dispenslng during product vending,and further to provide for predetermined operational cycle termination,a special power take-off mechanism forms a part of the drivearrangement. mechanism includes a rotatable shaft 57 which is supportednear opposite ends thereof in a bearing assembly 58 suitably carried bya bracket 60 attached to the msulated partition 24, and a bearingassembly 61 mounted in the side wall of the cabinet 10 immediatelyadjacent the bag dispensing device 12. The innermost end of the shaft 57as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 carries thereon an idler sprocket 62 which isengaged with the chain 55 and is driven thereby resulting in rotation ofthe shaft 57. Between the bearing assemblies 58 and 61, the shaft 57 hasoperatively associated therewith a brake assembly generally designatedby the numberal 63 and a switch operating finger 64. FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate these elements and the functioning thereof in detail.

The brake assembly 63 comprises a brake drum 65 fixedly mounted on theshaft 57 with its center offset from the center of rotation of the shaft57. Thus the brake drum 65 is eccentrically mounted on the shaft 57 forcontrolled engagement and disengagement with a metallic brake band-typeelement 66. This element is mounted at one end thereof by a fixed boltassembly 67 which is suitably attached through a flange 68 to thebracket 60. The other end of the band-like element 66 is attached to aspring mounted bolt assembly 70 which extends through a flange likemember 71 carried by the bracket 60. A coil This 6 spring 72 forming apart of the bolt assembly 70 provides for resilient movement of theband'element 66 in response to brake drum pressure thereagainst.

Rotation of the shaft 57 to the position shown in FIG. 7 results intight engagement of a friction brake pad or lining 73 with the innersurface of the band element 66. The lining 73 is suitably secured to theouter periphery of the brake drum 65 by screws 74 or the like. Thelining 73 covers only a prescribed portion of the outer periphery of thebrake drum 65, this portion being that which is located relative to thetrue center of the brake drum 65 to place the true center between thelining and the shaft 57. When the lining 73 is engaged with the bank 66as shown in FIG. 7, the bolt assembly 70 is pulled upwardly asillustrated resulting in compression of the coil spring 72. Thus tightfrictional engagement occurs between the bank 66 and the lining 73 to anextent that rotation of the shaft 57 is stopped. As shown in FIG. 8,rotation of the shaft 57 to an extent that the lining 73 is moved out ofcontact with the band 66 results in expansion of the coil spring 72 anda drawing downwardly of the band 66. With the lining 73 out of contactwith the band 66, the shaft 57 is free to rotate through a prescribedarc.

De-energization of the motor 52 is controlled by the switch operatingfinger 64 carried on the shaft 57. As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, thefinger 64 is fixedly carried by split yoke member 75 which is fixed tothe shaft 57 by a fastening element 76. The finger 64 is generallyL-shaped and the outer end thereof rotates about the center of the shaft57 concentrically therewith. The positioning of the outer end of thefinger 64 is arranged for contact with a switch operating arm 77 forminga part of a motor control switch 78 suitably mounted on a bracket member80 which is attached to the bracket 60. The finger 64 projects generallyaway from the lining 73 carried on the drum 65 to provide for contactthereby with the switch arm 77 just prior to full frictional engagementof the lining 73 with the band 66. Thus in the direction of rotation ofthe shaft 57 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7, the outer end of thefinger 64 will engage the switch arm 77 and operate the switch 78 justprior to complete engagement of the lining 73 with the band 66 in theposition shown in FIG. 7.

Operation of the switch 78 in the manner described results inde-energization of the drive assembly and deenergization of the motor 52to complete the ice particle vending and bag dispensing cycle. The brakeassembly 63 is provided to prevent overdrive or overrun of the vendmgdrum 28 upon completion of the vending cycle of operation. It will beappreciated that mere de-energizatron of the motor 52 itself will notresult in complete and immediate stopping of the various elements of thedrive arrangement. Accordingly, the drum assembly 63 provides a positivestop control arrangement and the various elements are related to providefor consistently accurate stopping of the vending drum 28 in theposition shown in FIG. 2. The electrical circuit including the switch 78and coin operated switch (not shown) in the coin operated mechanism 13is of a known type capable of being energized by coin operationinvolving a resetting of the switch 78 for subsequent de-energization ofthe circuit by contact of the finger 64 with the switch arm 77. Use ofthe rotating shaft 57 in operating the bag dispensing mechanism 12 willbe subsequently described.

FIG. 4 illustrates the ice forming portion 15 of the machine and inconjunction therewith illustrates a storage bin full and empty controlmechanism forming a part of the present invention. The ice formingmechanism 15 illustrated is of known type and is fully disclosed in U.S.Patent No. 2,696,717. For this reason, only certain of the basicstructural features will be described for the purpose of understandingthe operation of the machine. The mechanism 15 includes an open top tank81 having mounted on the bottom wall thereof a plurality of verticallyupwardly directed freezing tubes or fingers 82 which, as disclosed inthe aforementioned patent, are hollow tubes having received thereincentrally disposed refrigerant conduits which feed refrigerant from adistributor line 83 into the fingers 82 in a continuous manner with therefrigerant being continuously withdrawn therefrom by suitable conduitmeans. Rubber grommets 84 insulate each finger 82 relative to the bottomwall of the tank 81 and the tank is substantially filled with freshwater for ice particle forming purposes.

The particular form of ice particle or body 85 formed on each finger 82is illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 4. The ice particle is generallyof a size readily usable in individual glasses for beverage coolingpurposes and is provided with a relatively flat bottom surface having acentral opening extending upwardly short of the top rounded end thereof.Thus each ice particle takes the general shape of its associated finger82 during formation of the same.

Suitably mounted above the tank 81 are a pair of paddle members 86 whichrotate in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 tocontinuously agitate the body of water 87 contained in the tank 81. Oneof the functions of the paddle members 86 is to provide for continuousagitation of the water thus permitting the formation of substantiallyclear ice particles on the tubes 82. The cycle of ice particle formationis controlled by suitable means (not shown) forming a part of therefrigeration system which permit circulation of hot refrigerant throughthe tubes 32 following completed ice particle formation thereon toautomatically detach each ice particle from its respective tube andpermit the same to float upwardly towards the surface of the water 87 inthe tank. Upward floating of the ice particles results in contactthereof with the paddle members 86 and these members move the iceparticles toward the right-hand side of the tank 81 as viewed in FIG. 4.The right-hand paddle member 86 as viewed lifts the ice particles overthe adjacent edge of the tank 81 .and these particles slide along asupporting surface 88 into a downwardly directed delivery chute 90 whichdeposits the ice particles in the storage bin 20. The top portion of thecabinet may also include a lighting fixture generally designated by thenumeral 91 for illumination of a translucent advertising panel 92 shownin FIG. 1.

When the ice machine is subjected to at least fairly frequent vendingoperations, continuous operation of the ice forming assembly isnecessary to replenish the supply accumulating in the storage bin 20.However, during periods of extended inoperation, the storage bin will befilled and the ice forming assembly 15 must be de-activated. In order toprovide an automatic control for the level of ice particles accumulatedin the storage bin 20, a float-like member 93 is mounted in the upperend of the bin. This member includes a bulb-like end portion 94 whichmaintains contact with the top surface of accumulated ice particles inthe bin. The arm portion of the member 93 is pivotally attached througha pin 95 to a bracket element 96 carried by the cabinet 10. The armportion has fixedly attached thereto a plate-like link 97 which alsopivots about the pin 95 and in spaced relation to the pin 95 hasattached thereto a second pin 98. This pin is attached to a rocker-typearm 100 which extends upwardly in the cabinet 10 to one side of a pairof fixedly positioned, juxtaposed switches 101 and 102. These switchesinclude operating switch arms 103 and 104 respectively. The upper end ofthe rocker-type arm 100 carries a fixed block-like element 105 thereonwhich moves with the arm in contact with the switch arms 103 and 104.Thus pivoting of the float-like member 93 results in vertical reciprocalmovement of the rocker-type arm 100 and alternate operation of theswitches 101 and 102 through the switch arms 103 and 104.

The switch 101 is connected to a suitable electrical circuit whichprovides for on and off operation of the ice particle forming assembly15. The switch 102 is connected to the electrical circuit controllingvending operation. As illustrative of operation of the full and emptycontrol, the float-like member 93 in the position illustrated in FIG. 4indicates a filled bin 20. The switch arm operating block is positionedto provide for opening of the switch 101 and closing of the switch 102.The switch 101 by reason of being open prevents operation of the iceparticle forming assembly 15 and thus interrupts further delivery of iceparticles into the bin 20. The switch 102 being in the machine vendingcycle and being closed as illustrated in FIG. 4 permits vendingoperation of the machine. In the event that excessive vending occurs tothe point that the accumulated supply of ice particles in the bin iscompletely exhausted and continuous operation of the ice particleforming assembly 15 is insufficient to provide a supply of ice particlesadequate to meet the vending requirements, the float-like member will bepivoted downwardly and the rocker-type arm 100 will be moved upwardly toan extent that the switch 101 is closed and the switch 102 is open. Thusthe vending circuit will be interrupted and vending cannot take place.Meanwhile, the ice particle forming assembly will be operating and whensufiicient ice particle accumulation occurs in bin 20, the rocker-typearm 100 will be positioned to result in the closing of the switch 102 topermit vending operation while also maintaining the circuit includingthe switch 101 closed for continued ice particle forming operation.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate in detail the bag dispensing mechanism 12 ofthe present invention. This mechanism includes a housing 106 suitablyattached by fasteners 107 to the cabinet 10 of the ice machine. Thefront face of the housing is formed with a removable plate 108 by meansof which access is gained into the housing into the container or bagstorage area 110 which is defined by an inner housing 111. The innerhousing includes an upwardly inclined top wall portion, a concave rearwall portion and a downwardly inclined bottom wall portion. The shape ofthe housing 111 is such that a substantial supply of folded paper bags112 illustrated in broken lines may be stacked therein. The bags 112 areformed in the conventional manner having an open end portion and aclosed bottom end portion which is folded upon itself to provide abottom flap-like portion 113. The bags are stacked with the bottom flapportion 113 facing down for a purpose to be described.

The bottom downwardly inclined portion of the inner housing 111 definesa bag supporting surface 114 which includes a downwardly olfset portion115 in which the :bottom ends of the bags 112 are received. The offsetportion 115 is aligned with a dispensing face member 116 which is formedwith a bag delivery slot 117. A weight in the form of a relatively flatplate 118 is placed on top of the stack of bags 112 received in theinner housing 111 to force the same downwardly against the bottomsupporting surface 114. A plate guide member 120 is suitably mountedwithin the housing 111 and the outer edge of the weight plate 1'18 ridesagainst the guide plate 120 to hold the plate in proper position. Thefree edge of the guide member 120 is spaced from the offset portion 115sufficiently to permit a single bag to be pushed by the dispensingmechanism between the elements into the dispensing slot 117. A bag liftelement 121 is carried on the supporting surface 114 near the upper endthereof and functions to raise the upper ends of the bags 112 to permitdropping of an end of a single bag during dispensing thereof onto acounter spring 122 attached to a counter mechanism 123 for bag inventorypurposes. The bladelike counter spring 122 also serves to cut off themachine when the bag inventory is depleted. As is evident in FIGS. 5 and6, the counter spring 122 remains depressed as long as bags 112 are inthe housing. After the last bag has been dispensed, however, the Weight118 is held in spaced relation to the bag support surface 114 by meansof the lift element 121, thus allowing the spring 122 to rise to actuatethe switch mechanism 123.

The offset portion 115 of the supporting surface 114 is suitably slottedto receive therethrough a bag engaging means in the form of a projectingfinger 124. The finger 124 is designed to engage the bottom end of a bag112 between the rearwardly folded portion 113 thereof and the mainportion of the bag and in doing so to permit pushing of the bottom bagout from under the bag stack and into the dispensing slot 117. Thebottom end of the bag will then project out of the main housing 106 anda purchaser may readily grasp the same and completely remove the bagfrom the mechanism 12 for ice particle filling thereof in the mannerpreviously described.

The bag dispensing operating mechanism includes the finger 124 describedabove which constitutes a part of a sliding plate-like member 125 whichis slidably mounted between a lower guide plate 126 and an upper guideplate -127. The plate 125 has fixedly secured therethrough transverselyextending guide pins 128 which control the positioning of the platebetween the guide means 126 and 127. The lower outermost end of theguide plate 126 is provided with a downwardly inclined plate supportportion 130 on which the outermost pin 128 will slide during fullyextended movement of the plate 125 and finger 124 during the dispensingoperation.

The plate 125 is provided with a depending flange 131 to which ispivotally attached by means of a fastener 132 a rocker-type arm 133. Theopposite end of the arm 133 is pivotally attached to a rocker lever 134by a fastener 135. The lever 134 is fixedly attached to the rotatingshaft 57 previously described and as best illustrated in FIG. 3.

Rotation of the shaft 57 occurs during vending operation of the icemachine as described above. During rotational operation of this shaftthe lever 134 rotates therewith and the rocker-type arm 133 functions toreciprocate the plate 125 and finger 124 towards the right and back tothe left as viewed in FIGS. and 6. During this operation the end of thefinger 124 engages the free folded bottom portion 113 of a bag 112 andejects the same through the slot 117 of the bag dispensing member 116.One complete rotation of the shaft 57 returns the plate 125 and finger124 to its original position from which it can again operate during thenext vending cycle to eject another bag. Operation of the brake assembly63 in the manner previously described also functions to prevent overrunor overdrive of the operating elements of the bag dispensing assembly 12and thus provides for positively controlled uniform bag dispensing witheach vending cycle.

Obviously certain modifications and variations of the invention ashereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit andscope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed asare indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A bag dispenser for use with a vending machine, said dispensercomprising a housing provided with a bag supporting surface therein, bagengaging means projectable through and beyond said surface to engage abag lying against said surface and slide the same along said surfacetoward a face of said housing, a dispensing slot in said face of saidhousing and aligned with said surface and dispensing slot adapted toreceive a bag therethrough during movement thereof by said bag engagingmeans, and operating means connected with said bag engaging means tomove the same in a non-linear path for successive bag engagement anddispensing movement thereby to eject a portion of said bag through saiddispensing slot in the face of said housing.

2. A bag dispenser for use with a vending machine, said dispensercomprising a housing provided with a bag supporting surface therein,said bag supporting means having an offset portion to receive the foldedbottom portion of a bag, bag engaging means projectable through andbeyond said surface to engage said bag lying against said surface andslide the same along said surface toward a face of said housing, adispensing slot in said face of said housing aligned with said surfaceand adapted to receive a bag therethrough during movement thereof bysaid bag engaging means, and operating means connected with said bagengaging means to reciprocate the same for successive bag engagement anddispensing movement, said operating means comprising a rocker-armassembly operated by a rotating shaft with the free end of therocker-arm thereof connected to said bag engaging means.

3. A bag dispenser for use with a vending machine, said dispensercomprising a housing provided with a bag supporting surface therein, bagengaging means projectable through and beyond said surface to engage abag lying against said surface and slide the same along said surfacetoward a face of said housing, a dispensing slot in said face of saidhousing aligned with said surface and adapted to receive a bagtherethrough during movement thereof by said bag engaging means, meansengageable with one of the bags in said dispenser for maintainingcontrol of the bag inventory, and operating means connected with saidbag engaging means to move the same in a predetermined path forsuccessive bag engagement and dispensing movement.

4. A bag dispenser for use with a vending machine, said dispensercomprising a housing provided with a bag supporting surface therein, bagengaging means projecting through said surface to engage a bag lyingagainst said surface and slide the same along said surface towards aface of said housing, a dispensing slot in said face of said housingadapted to receive the bag therethrough during movement thereof by saidbag engaging means, said bag engaging means being in the form of aplate-like member provided with a projecting bag engaging finger means,said plate-like member being slida-bly supported between upper and lowerguide means mounted in said housing below said surface, said lower guidemeans having a downwardly inclined late support portion to guide saidfinger towards the face of said housing, and operating means connectedwith said bag engaging means to reciprocate the same in a non-linearpath for successive bag engagement and dispensing movement thereby toeject a portion of said bag through said dispensing slot in the face ofsaid housing.

5. A bag dispenser for use with a vending machine, said dispensercomprising a housing provided with a bag supporting surface therein,said bag supporting surface having an offset portion to receive thefolded bottom portion of a bag, bag engaging means projecting throughsaid surface to engage said bag lying against said surface and slide thesame along said surface towards a face of said housing, a dispensingslot in the face of said housing adapted to receive a bag therethroughduring movement thereof by said engaging means, said bag engaging meansbeing in the form of a plate-like member provided with a projecting bagengaging finger means, said plate-like member being slidably supportedfor movement in a non-linear path between guide means mounted in saidhousing below said surface, said guide means including a downwardlyinclined plate support portion to co-operate with a guiding surface onthe end of a plate-like member closest to said bag engaging fingermeans, and operating means connected with the bag engaging means toreciprocate the same for successive bag engagement and dispensingmovement, said operating means comprising a rocker arm assembly operatedby rotating said shaft with the free end of the rocker arm thereofconnected to said bag engaging means.

6. A bag dispenser for use with a vending machine, said dispensercomprising a housing provided with a bag sup porting surface therein,bag engaging means projectable through and beyond said surface to engagea bag lying against said surface and slide the same along said surfacetowards the face of said housing, a dispensing slot in the face of saidhousing adapted to receive a bag therethrough during movement thereof bysaid bag engaging means, said bag supporting surface being formed with adownv..11, a 12 wardly offset portion for reception of a bottom end por-868,773 10/07 Gorham et a1 221-240 X tion of said bag, said offsetportion being slotted to receive 4 3 3 /O9 Thexton 221 240 X and permitwithdrawal of said bag engaging means as it 1 937 015 11/33 Gangler 221240 X moves in a non-linear path, and operating means con.

nected with said bag engaging means to move the same 5 V 2/55 Smith22'1240 X for successive bag engagement and dispensing movement therebyto eject a portion of said bag through said dispens- FOREIGN PATENTS ingslot in the face of said housing. 115,211 3/99 Germany.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 755,001 3/04Henderson 221240 X 10- LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

HADD'S. LANE, EVERETT w. KIRBY, Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,216,613 V November 9, 1965 William A. Eschenburg et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 5, line 21, for "15" read 14 column 6, lines 13 and 16, for"bank", each occurrence, read band column 9, lines 60 and 61, for "anddispensing slot" read said dispensing slot column 10, line 37, for"late" res plate Signed and sealed this 19th day of July 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNE Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatent

1. A BAG DISPENSER FOR USE WITH A VENDING MACHINE, SAID DISPENSERCOMPRISING A HOUSING PROVIDED WITH A BAG SUPPORTING SURFACE THEREIN, BAGENGAGING MEANS PROJECTABLE THROUGH AND BEYOND SAID SURFACE TO ENGAGE ABAG LYING AGAINST SAID SURFACE AND SLIDE THE SAME ALONG SAID SURFACETOWARD A FACE OF SAID HOUSING, A DISPENSING SLOT IN SAID FACE OF SAIDHOUSING AND ALIGNED WITH SAID SURFACE AND DISPENSING SLOT ADAPTED TORECEIVE A BAG THERETHROUGH DURING MOVEMENT THEREOF BY SAID BAG ENGAGINGMEANS, AND OPERATING MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID BAG ENGAGING MEANS TOMOVE THE SAME IN A NON-LINEAR PATH FOR SUCCESSIVE BAG ENGAGEMENT ANDDISPENSING MOVEMENT THEREBY TO EJECT A PORTION OF SAID BAG THROUGH SAIDDISPENSING SLOT IN THE FACE OF SAID HOUSING.